Two newspaper groups are to close branch offices in Newtown in mid-Wales.

Staff at North Wales Newspapers’ County Times newspaper are to be transferred to the weekly title’s head office in Welshpool.

And the Shropshire Star has also closed its office in Newtown, and moved its staff to a new office – also in Welshpool.

Both titles had been based in the same building in Back Lane, Newtown, but are owned by different newspaper groups.

North Wales Newspapers publishing director Graham Breeze said it had been decided to centralise both the County Times editorial and commercial departments at the title’s head office in Broad Street, Welshpool.

He said: “There are no editorial job losses in this move.

“The decision was taken after a full review of the company’s branch offices and follows the decision to close offices in both Denbigh and Ellesmere Port last year that were no longer viable.

“The company retains branch offices in Bangor, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Welshpool, Oswestry, Wrexham and Chester.

“Every effort will be made to ensure that the people of Newtown and surrounding areas do not suffer as a result of this decision and we will continue to provide our excellent news and advertising coverage of the area.”

The Shropshire Star, run by the Midland News Association, opened a new office futher down Broad Street on Monday.

Chief reporter Deborah Knox, senior reporter Mike Sivier and photographers Simon Williams and Peter Flemmich have transferred to the new office.